Ash Slipover in Rowan Alpaca Classic - RTP002-0004-DEP - Downloadable PDF

Ash Slipover in Rowan Alpaca Classic – Pattern Summary (RTP002-0004-DEP)

The Ash Slipover is a stylish, sleeveless knitted garment designed by Quail Studio and published by Rowan. Worked as a classic slipover — a vest or tank-style pullover without sleeves — this design is an ideal project for intermediate knitters looking to build confidence with shaping, colourwork, and neat finishing techniques. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF (reference RTP002-0004-DEP).

What Is Being Made

The finished garment is a fitted, sleeveless slipover featuring a V-neck with a neat ribbed neckband. It is worked flat in separate pieces — a front and a back — which are then seamed together at the shoulders and sides. The design is offered in a wide range of sizes to suit bust measurements from approximately 71–76 cm up to 152–157 cm, with a finished knitted bust measurement ranging from 99 cm to 179 cm, making it an inclusive, versatile pattern.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Rowan Alpaca Classic, a DK weight yarn sold in 25 g balls. Two colourways are specified:

• Colour A – Noir 103: used as the main colour throughout the body and neckband
• Colour B – Snowflake White 115: used as a contrasting colour within the colourwork sections

The quantities required vary by size, with smaller sizes requiring approximately 10 balls of Colour A and 8 balls of Colour B, scaling up to 12 balls of Colour A and 10 balls of Colour B for the largest sizes. Rowan Alpaca Classic is a soft, lightweight yarn with a beautiful drape, making it well suited to a close-fitting slipover that sits comfortably against the body.

Needles

The pattern uses knitting needles in size 5 mm throughout, including for the neckband pick-up. A spare needle or stitch holder is also required to hold back stitches during construction, particularly for the back neck stitches when working the neckband.

Techniques Used

This is an intermediate-level knitting project that draws on a range of techniques:

• Norwegian stranded colourwork technique — the main fabric is worked using a specific Norwegian method, knitting with a double strand of yarn held together, which creates a denser, warmer fabric with excellent stitch definition
• Flat knitting — the pieces are worked back and forth in rows rather than in the round
• V-neck shaping — the front neckline is shaped with decreases worked on both sides of a central point, creating the characteristic V silhouette
• Shoulder shaping and cast-off — stitches are cast off progressively across the shoulder to create a neat, angled shoulder seam
• Picking up stitches for the neckband — stitches are picked up evenly around the entire V-neck opening, including from the left front neck edge, the V-point, and the right front neck edge, as well as the held back neck stitches
• Seaming and finishing — the right shoulder seam is closed before the neckband is worked; all pieces are steamed according to the yarn care instructions before assembly

Stitches Used

The pattern employs several key stitch types and techniques:

• Stocking stitch (stockinette) — the main body fabric is worked in smooth stocking stitch, described in the pattern as glatt rechts (plain knit), using the Norwegian double-strand method
• 1×1 Rib — the neckband is worked in a knit 1, purl 1 rib pattern, set up on the first wrong-side row after picking up stitches; this creates a neat, stretchy edging that frames the V-neck cleanly